Antonelli Targets Record-Breaking Title in Mexico City

Kimi Antonelli can finish as low as ninth in Sunday’s Formula 1 race to secure the world championship and become the youngest champion in the sport’s history. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver arrives in Mexico City with the title well within his grasp, having won his ninth race of the season in Texas last week. To break the record currently held by Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 when he won the title in 2010, Antonelli only needs to avoid a major crash or mechanical failure.

Antonelli missed a media session on Thursday due to a viral infection, but he appeared in good form on Friday at the Hermanos Rodríguez race track. He finished second in the first practice session and fourth in the second. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped both sessions, continuing a strong run that includes third-place finishes in the last two races.

The Italian driver aims to clinch the title with a strong result rather than just enough points to win. “I’m very excited. I would love to clinch the title in style with a great result,” Antonelli said. “That’s the mindset. I’m just going to try to enjoy every moment because they’re moments that will always be remembered.”

If Antonelli wins the drivers’ title, he will become the first Italian to do so since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Mercedes also has a chance to win the constructors’ championship on Sunday, which would be their first since 2021. The team started the season strongly under new regulations, with George Russell winning the opening race in Australia.

Russell has struggled to find pace since the start of the season, finishing eighth in Austin last week. Antonelli overtook his teammate by winning five consecutive races. Hamilton, who is also in contention for the title, finished fourth in the first practice session on Friday. However, he reported a loss of power during the second session.

“Something is wrong with the car,” Hamilton said over the radio. “I lost all power at turn 13.” Ferrari team officials instructed him to pull off the track and stop. Hamilton’s issues could affect his chances of winning the race, which is necessary for him to retain the title if Antonelli does not finish high enough to secure it outright.

Contact between Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson caused a red flag during the second practice session. Both drivers received a one-place penalty drop on the starting grid. The FIA report stated that both drivers acknowledged to the stewards that their moves were unnecessary and clumsy. Lawson, who drives for Racing Bulls, criticized Verstappen via radio, saying, “He just straight up ran into me.”

Verstappen defended his driving position, telling Sky Sports that Lawson suddenly accelerated when he saw him coming. “That’s not very wise behavior of someone in his position, to choose a fight with me,” Verstappen said. Lawson is on a one-year contract with the sister team to Red Bull Racing.

Colton Herta took the wheel of Valtteri Bottas’s Cadillac for the first practice session. Herta finished last, 3.237 seconds behind Leclerc. He is attempting to secure the points needed for an F1 super license, which would qualify him for a seat next season. “I was under the impression if I do this, I get the super license,” Herta said. “We will have to wait and see.”

Cadillac has yet to score a point in its debut season and has struggled with brake overheating issues. Sergio Pérez signed a two-year contract extension through 2029, but the team has not confirmed Bottas’s future. The high altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level in Mexico City poses challenges for engine performance and brake temperatures. Russell noted that Ferrari may have an advantage due to their smaller turbocharger, which could help manage turbo lag in thin air.